The invention relates to a tubular fuel cell which is characterized by comprising an outer shell, a thermal insulation inner shell, a first louvre damper, a second louvre damper, sub-stacks, an electric heating tube and a fan, wherein a ventilation opening and an exhaust opening are formed in the outer shell; the thermal insulation inner shell is integrally arranged in an inner cavity of the outer shell; the thermal insulation inner shell is in clearance fit with the outer shell to form an air flow channel; ventilation holes are formed in the thermal insulation inner shell; a front thermal insulation end plate and a rear thermal insulation end plate are respectively arranged at a front end part and a rear end part of the thermal insulation inner shell; a tail gas outlet is formed in the rear thermal insulation end plate; the first louvre damper and the second louvre damper are respectively arranged inside the ventilation opening and the exhaust opening; the sub-stacks are arranged in the thermal insulation inner shell and are in clearance fit with each other; the sub-stacks comprise tail gas processors, ceramic tubes and fuel gas distributors; a gas inlet tube and a gas outlet tube of each fuel gas distributor are respectively communicated with external fuel gas and a gas inlet of each ceramic tube; the gas inlet tube and the gas outlet tube of each tail gas processor are respectively communicated with the gas outlet and the exhaust opening of each ceramic tube; two adjacent ceramic tubes are in clearance fit with each other to form a cathode air flow channel; the electric heating tube heats the cathode air flow channel. The tubular fuel cell has the advantages of having high thermal efficiency, preventing outer walls of the ceramic tubes from depositing carbon, and having compact and ordered structure.